OHSAS 18001 and ISO 45001 Certification for Occupational Health and Safety
OHSAS 18001 to ISO 45001 Transition Certification for Workplace Safety Governance
OHSAS 18001 was the internationally recognised occupational health and safety management standard that has now been superseded by ISO 45001:2018. Organizations previously certified to OHSAS 18001 need to transition their OHSMS to ISO 45001 to maintain internationally recognised safety certification. Accredify Global supports organizations through transition audits covering the new requirements for worker participation, risk and opportunity management, context of the organization, and hazard controls, issuing an ISO 45001:2018 certificate that replaces OHSAS 18001 certification.
When Do Organizations Need ISO 18001 Certification?
Organizations need the transition when customers, insurers, or regulators expect current ISO 45001 controls rather than the withdrawn OHSAS 18001 framework.
OHSAS 18001 Certification Transition to ISO 45001
Accredify Global conducts gap analysis and transition audits to upgrade OHSAS 18001 certified organizations to ISO 45001:2018 requirements.
New ISO 45001 Worker Participation Requirements
ISO 45001 introduces formal worker consultation and participation obligations that were not explicitly required under OHSAS 18001.
Hazard and Risk Controls Under ISO 45001
The transition introduces structured requirements for hazard identification, operational planning, and risk controls aligned with the updated safety management framework.
Regulatory and Customer Certification Expectations
Regulatory bodies, buyers, and procurement teams now require ISO 45001 rather than the withdrawn OHSAS 18001, making transition essential for continued compliance.
Context of Organization and Leadership Obligations
ISO 45001 introduces new leadership and organizational context requirements including documented safety policies and strategic integration.
Multi-Site and Integrated OHSMS Transition
Organizations with multiple sites or integrated management systems benefit from coordinated transition audits that update all locations simultaneously.
How ISO 18001 Certification Works
A structured lifecycle from transition review through surveillance audits.
- Phase 1: Application review, scope definition, and audit planning
- Phase 2: Stage 1 audit for documented information and readiness
- Phase 3: Stage 2 audit to verify implementation and effectiveness
- Phase 4: Certification decision and certificate issuance
- Phase 5: Annual surveillance and recertification cycle
Typical Timeline
- 6-8 weeks: organizations with mature documented controls
- 8-10 weeks: organizations with moderate management maturity
- 10-12 weeks: multi-site or complex scope implementations
Why Accredify Global
- Independent certification body with structured audit methodology
- Evidence-based certification decisions aligned to audit findings
- Recognized certification outputs for buyers and procurement teams
- Clear surveillance and recertification cycle governance
What You Receive
- ISO 45001:2018 certificate replacing OHSAS 18001
- Transition gap analysis and audit findings
- Worker participation and hazard control review
- Certification documentation for customers, insurers, and regulatory compliance
Start Your ISO 18001 Certification Journey
Share your scope and business goals. We will provide a tailored audit roadmap, timeline guidance, and proposal.
What Happens Next?
Our certification process is transparent, structured, and results-driven.
1. Scope Review
We review your operational scope and requirements
2. Audit Planning
We recommend certification path and audit timeline
3. Proposal & Agreement
You receive proposal, pricing, and initiate engagement
4. Audit Execution
We conduct Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits and issue certificate
Related Compliance and Frameworks
When Do Organizations Need ISO 18001 Occupational Health & Safety?
Most teams begin when customer contracts, procurement reviews, or market expansion requires formal third-party certification.
Contract Requirement
Enterprise clients request recognized certification before onboarding or renewal.
Tender Qualification
RFP and government bids require independent certification evidence.
Market Expansion
New geographies and industries require stronger trust and compliance proof.
Audit Readiness
Leadership needs structured audits, predictable timelines, and objective decisions.
Typical Timeline
Certification timelines are usually in the 6-12 week range depending on readiness, scope complexity, and evidence maturity.
Why Accredify Global
- Independent certification body approach
- Structured audit planning and communication
- Global certification support and recognition
- Buyer-ready certification documentation
PDCA Cycle | Accredify Global
- Plan – to think that what do we need to achieve in our organization
- Do – to execute a planned action which will help us achieve the required objective
- Check – monitor against the standards) (policies, objectives, requirements)
- Action – finally implementing what has been rechecked.